The background music to
this page is "Shenizkeh", composed by Rabbi Geoffrey
Shisler and performed by him at a concert held to
celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Synagogue in
February 2005. A CD of the concert is
available from the Synagogue office.

On the 30th June 2010, BBC London reported on an
English Heritage survey on the many places of worship in
London which are in need of repair, and Rabbi Shisler was
interviewed in the Synagogue for part of the film.

Click here
to go to the BBC London website and see the film. Rabbi
Shisler and the NWES appear after 1 min 25 secs of the
film.

History and Architecture

The New West End Synagogue is among the most beautiful and
historic buildings of Jewish interest in England and
visitors are most welcome to view the magnificence of our
Grade 1 Listed Building. (Click here
for pictures).

Our Central London location is very convenient for tourists
visiting London, who are assured of a warm welcome to all
our services and events.

The Foundation Stone of the New West End
Synagogue was laid on June 7th. 1877 by Mr. Leopold de
Rothschild in the presence of the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Nathan
Marcus Adler, and the building was formally opened on March
30th. 1879. The total cost of construction, including the
site, amounted to £24,980 which was raised by private
contributions and with the help of the United Synagogue, of
which the New West End is a constituent Synagogue.

The building bears many similarities to the Princes Road
Synagogue in Liverpool, which had been designed by the same
architect, George Audsley, shortly before the New West End
was planned. At the time of its opening, the Jewish
Chronicle described the architecture of the building as "...eclectic,
although based chiefly on the Saracenic. The sharply cut
and channelled foliage ornaments, and both the round and
pointed horseshoe arches point to this origin; while the
fusion of the Gothic element is mainly apparent in the
proportions and disposition of the main portions of the
buildings, and in...the rose windows and circular, foiled,
clerestory lights. The entire treatment...avoids symbolism
of every description, and the severe
conventionalism...prevents any infringement of the rules
of the Hebrew faith. Externally, the building is
constructed of red brick, with the leading ornamental
portions in red stone...the central gable rising to the
height of about 77 feet is flanked by two square turrets
94 feet in height finished with open tabernacles and
domes...In the central gable is placed a magnificent
doorway deeply recessed and elaborately ornamented. The
doors are of teak hung with bold wrought iron hinges...The
seating, which affords accommodation for about 800 persons
throughout, and the doors and gallery fronts are of
polished pitch pine; the doors and panels of the gallery
fronts display wood of remarkable richness and rarity.
Probably no such wood is to be seen in any public building
in London..."

As time went on, various alterations and improvements were
introduced. During the 1890s the walls were faced with
alabaster slabs relieved by the finest Cipallino marble from
Saillin in the Rhone Valley. The marble and alabaster pulpit
and the marble railing in front of the Ark were also
installed, while the octagonal iron columns were covered in
marble so skilfully that it is virtually impossible to
distinguish them from solid marble. About the same time
electric lighting was installed, replacing the original gas
lamps, examples of which can still be seen inside the
Synagogue above each of the doors.

A notable feature of the internal decoration is to be found
in the texts that adorn the walls. This idea was not new,
being found in mediaeval Synagogues. There were originally
nineteen texts; at a later date those on the side walls of
the Gallery were added. The texts concentrate on the ideas
of Divine knowledge and worship, as well as practice, duty
and love. Most of the quotations are from the Psalms, and
were selected by the late Rev. Simeon Singer, Minister of
the Synagogue from its consecration until his death in 1906.Click here to read Rabbi
Geoffrey Shisler's Sermon for Shabbat 30th October 2004
describing these texts, based on the sermon delivered on the
same subject by Rev Simeon Singer on Shabbat 26th October
1895. Click here to read
Rabbi Shisler's lecture on the life of Simeon Singer.

The beauty of the Synagogue is enhanced by the magnificent
stained glass windows, which were designed and made by N H J
Westlake, one of the foremost authorities in England on
stained glass windows and mosaics. The rose window above the
Ark, executed by Erwin Bossanyi in 1937 in memory of Emma,
Lady Rothschild, illustrates numerous aspects of Jewish
ritual and tradition, while the centres of the side windows
are all different, the framework remaining constant.

The Synagogue's treasures include some twenty Sifrei Torah,
as well as superb examples of embroidery and silver, some
dating back to the early eighteenth century; some of the
Torah bells and breastplates which are not in regular use
are on loan for display at the Jewish Museum.

Adapted from "The History of the New West End
Synagogue" by the late Rev. Ephraim Levine, 1929.

For a more extensive history of the New West End Synagogue,
the subject of a lecture by Elkan Levy, click here. For a more
detailed analysis of the architecture, read the English
Heritage Grade 1 citation by clicking here.